The numbers of criminal defendants, who are released by local court judges and commit crimes and offenses while on release, is growing. This is according to the latest data Kandit requested from the Office of the Attorney General of Guam.
In February, Attorney General Douglas Moylan released a report showing judges released 10 defendants from jail pending trial who allegedly re-offended. According to the report, two of the defendants were charged in new criminal cases, and the rest either tested positive for drugs, or didn’t show up to court or the probation office when required. Judges had to issue bench warrants for their arrests.
Wednesday, Mr. Moylan responded to Kandit’s request for an update. The new report shows another 11 defendants, who were released from jail, ended up allegedly committing crimes while on release.
According to the report, defendant Yi Nong Zhang who was released earlier in the year for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, was arrested recently for DWI and criminal trespass charges.
Another defendant, Jet Henry, who was recently released for DWI, was arrested last week on another DWI charge, along with reckless driving.
Two of the released defendants failed drug tests, while the rest simply did not show up to court or the probation office when they were supposed, and judges ended up issuing bench warrants for their arrest.
Mr. Moylan is trying to reform the criminal justice system through a mixture of policies starting with a ‘tough on crime’ stance.
His election, he stated, “was about stopping the recurring cycle of ‘catch, release, and re-offend,’ that results in crime victims.”
“The AG’s Office,” Mr. Moylan said, “fights to keep defendants locked up or a ‘realistic bail’ imposed. Without tough release conditions, defendants create more crime victims in our villages. We oppose release on performance bonds since they require no money, don’t get paid, and cost too much attorney time to pursue.”
The attorney general said his office will continue to ask judges to incarcerate defendants “or set bail that will actually protect this community, and ensure their compliance with release orders. A pro-incarceration policy protects us and works.”
Mr. Moylan’s prosecution division, led by Chief Prosecutor Heather Zona, researches and presents to judges the criminal histories of defendants they charge. Prosecutors also work with crime victims to voice the victims’s desires for defendants to be held in jail pending trial for the victims’s safety. This research is presented in every report to the magistrates judges requesting criminal charges.
The two magistrate judges, who decide to release or detain defendants are Judge Benjamin Sison and Judge Jonathan Quan.
1 Comments
Alan San Nicolas
03/24/2023 at 5:32 AM
Basta ma menta put I hues, put I kotte. Sumasaonao lokkue I ofisina I fiskat (AG). Meggai (bula) na rason na man ma sotta. Para hafa na baihu esplika. I ti tumugo I sustema I hustisia seimpre duru mu pichipichi. Na guaha hustisia! Gi fino san lagu, “team work “. Yan finoña I sanhaya “basta mama I lone ranger”. Esta despues.